In the already-released three series of Changing Ends, Nancy Sullivan plays Christine Carr (Alan Carr’s mother) alongside her on-screen family Shaun Dooley as husband Graham, Oliver Savell as Alan and Taylor Fay as Gary, with a Series 4 already filmed. Nancy performed as Dream Lead Singer in Steve McQueen’s feature film Blitz for Apple TV, and as a theatre actor, she played Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady in Naples and Palermo and Éponine in Les Misérables in London’s West End. At the 2016 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Nancy played Leah in the one-woman play Fabric, and reprised her role at the Soho Theatre in 2018, and in 2007, for the UK Tour of Take That jukebox musical Never Forget, Nancy originated the role of Chloe, with the musical filmed at Manchester Opera House for a DVD release. Alongside her acting career, Nancy is the artistic director at The Ruined Theatre, which is an outdoor theatre in South East London, and she directed and co-created Boy Out the City, which was written by and starred Declan Bennett. We caught up with Nancy about portraying Christine Carr in Changing Ends, playing Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, her time as Chloe in the Take That musical Never Forget and working with Declan Bennett for Boy Out the City.
How has it been seeing the fan response to the first three series of Changing Ends and what has it been like filming recently for the upcoming Series 4?
It’s been amazing to see such a positive reaction. To get to Series 4 shows that audiences are really connecting with this! It’s a dream job, and I’m very lucky.
How is it getting into character as Christine Carr, and was there anything that drew you to the role?
Alan Carr… playing his mum… what’s not to love! He’s an absolute legend, and I was keen to learn more about the woman who raised him and explore her influences on him.
What do you enjoy most about being part of Changing Ends as Christine Carr and what is it like on set of the show?
Getting the scripts is always the most exciting bit, seeing where it’s all going to go… They’re always so funny and full of brilliant one-liners. It’s exciting – no nerves kick in at that point, just pure excitement.
How was it being involved with Steve McQueen’s feature film Blitz as Dream Lead Singer for Apple TV+?
A surreal experience working with such a master. I was in awe and loved it – especially being in Stepney Green station, where my family would’ve been in the war during the Blitz, as they were all from Stepney.
As a theatre performer, you starred as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady in Naples and Palermo, how was it taking on the role of Eliza and how did you prepare for the production?
This was a role I probably prepped for more than others I have played. It required huge vocal stamina and was a marathon of a role. I loved her – it really was a dream come true. I’d always wanted to play her since I first saw the film as a little girl.
How did you find the experience performing as Leah in the one-woman play Fabric, which ran at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2016 and Soho Theatre in 2018?
The most satisfyingly heartbreaking creative venture I’d ever been part of – so much so that Leah still is very much with me.
The subject matter, and the way we collaborated from the idea to the end performance, felt like such a venture and achievement – something that I think stayed with audiences as well as all of us. Edinburgh on my own performing for the month was a wonderful experience and very cathartic, and to have won the accolades we got felt like real recognition for the effort and sacrifices we’d all made to make that show. It was a labour of love for all of us.
On the 2007 UK Tour of the Take That jukebox musical Never Forget, you originated the role of Chloe, what was it like touring with the musical and filming the show at Manchester Opera House for a DVD release?
This was my first leading role, tour, and time on the road. It was a blast, and I’ve still got dear friends of the boys who played Take That, and that show felt very special. I was, and still am, a massive Take That fan, so I was thrilled to get to sing Gary’s (Barlow) songs and have so much fun on stage every night! It was like a party every night…!
What are some of your favourite memories from playing Éponine in Les Misérables in the West End?
My mum and my grandparents getting to see it was a dream come true. We’d all been to see the show together when I was about 11, and they knew Éponine was always a role I wanted to play – I’d constantly sing the role and loved her determination, spirit and devotion. I’d spent about five years auditioning for West End roles, with things not working out for some reason or another, so when this one did, I did actually cry… quite a lot!
I owe a lot to Les Misérables: I met my husband in the show, played my dream role, my first West End role, lead… it ticked endless boxes. I had a moment every night playing the role where I’d be on stage and not believe it was happening at some point.
You are the artistic director of The Ruined Theatre, can you tell us about the company and about some of the projects you’ve worked on with them?
We’re an outdoor theatre company bringing professional theatre to an underserved area in South East London, where I live.
It aims to enrich an area and introduce a new audience to theatre, which we have done now for five years. I’m very proud of it – we offer mentorships to local creatives and free tickets to families in hardship, ensuring theatre is accessible to everyone.
How was it directing and co-creating Boy Out the City, which was written and performed by Declan Bennett and transferred to the West End’s Lyric Theatre in 2023?
Declan and I had worked together on something previously on a much smaller scale, and developed trust and shorthand. So, when he brought me Boy Out the City, it felt a natural development from what had come before.
He wrote endless pages of almost diary-like entries, which were beautiful, but made no sense of narrative or a play, so we worked hard to finding the story he wanted to tell. My job was then directing the piece in the way we wanted it to go and what Dec wanted to write, so we ended up with a massively personal experience, driven by narrative, his beautiful words, and an exceptional performance.
Where does your love of acting and directing come from and how did you get started in the industry?
I love telling stories, whether that’s being the character or the director of something. For me, the two are interchangeable, depending on where I best serve the piece I’m working – on stage or behind it.
Do you have any favourite films, TV or theatre shows to watch?
I love the National Theatre and the Royal Court. On TV – Stranger Things at the moment!
How do you like to spend your free time?
Running/any outdoor activities, and with my family.
What are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any projects coming up that you can talk about?
Just more and more and more of the same please… creating stories and telling them!
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